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terse
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  • Vernet snapped, his accented English terse now.†   (source)
  • The pages contained a tersely worded order from Judge Norton denying us relief.†   (source)
  • "Tobias," I say tersely.†   (source)
  • "Sorry about that," she said tersely.†   (source)
  • "Lady Kaltain," Dorian said tersely, his body tensing.†   (source)
  • Thomas doesn't question a single one of my terse responses.†   (source)
  • I couldn't imagine what my mother's sad red dress, her dummy, and Mary Magdalene's stolen arms could ever possibly be for—and I said so, a little more tersely than I meant to.†   (source)
  • Robbie said tersely, "I suppose we are," and then, to make amends for him, added for general consideration, "Has England ever been hotter?"†   (source)
  • She spoke tersely, as if wishing to put the topic behind us as quickly as possible.†   (source)
  • Her uncle's terse petitions were hard enough to endure; this prayer, she knew, would be a lengthy masterpiece.†   (source)
  • Their strident quorks drifted down from above as Osha washed and cleaned and bandaged the maester's wounds, under Luwin's terse instruction.†   (source)
  • After terse preliminaries in Russian, a baby-faced curly-headed teenager climbed out of the driver's seat and was greeted, by Boris, with a slap on the cheek and a jaunty seven note whistle: On the Good Ship Lollipop.†   (source)
  • Then, in a clipping marked February 1, 1952: MILLIONAIRE EXEC TO SELL COLORADO INVESTMENTS Deal Made with California Investors on Overlook, Other Investments, Derwent Reveals By Rodney Conklin, Financial Editor In a terse communique yesterday from the Chicago offices of the monolithic Derwent Enterprises, it was revealed that millionaire (perhaps billionaire) Horace Derwent has sold out of Colorado in a stunning financial power play that will be completed by October 1, 1954.†   (source)
  • With a few terse words, he told her what had happened while he searched his saddlebags for the rags in which Zar'roc had been wrapped.†   (source)
  • Such terse responses to Mommy were unheard of.†   (source)
  • She slapped the match out of my hand as I bent to light it, then pulled out the green sticks one by one with a potholder, explaining tersely that the smoke alone would have killed us all.†   (source)
  • Theo nodded tersely, interrupted.†   (source)
  • "Three," she answered tersely.†   (source)
  • I nodded tersely.†   (source)
  • "Mae," he said, his voice terse, "this is Kalden.†   (source)
  • We became meticulous and terse, diminished the scope of our movements, buttered our bread in the manner of technicians restoring a fresco.†   (source)
  • "We need weapons," Jace said tersely.†   (source)
  • Kote nodded and gave terse instructions that he not be disturbed for the rest of the night.†   (source)
  • My apologies for the terse instructions.†   (source)
  • George shows up about twenty minutes later—sheepish, tense, a terse excuse about work, Insley snapping at him, "You're forty minutes late," him nipping back, "Yeah, sorry about making us money."†   (source)
  • You check the manual to see if there might be any special cause for this screw to come off so hard, but all it says is "Remove side cover plate" in that wonderful terse technical style that never tells you what you want to know.†   (source)
  • If somebody in one of his classes spoke to him he answered stiffly, tersely.†   (source)
  • Mother gave me her support with one of her usual terse asides, "That's what you want to do?†   (source)
  • I said tersely.†   (source)
  • After we completed our prayers, Moody said tersely, "You should not say them in English."†   (source)
  • I replied to Oliver in a very terse letter saying that I was talking to the government about one thing and one thing only: a meeting between the National Executive Committee of the ANC and the South African government.†   (source)
  • She delivers a terse speech from a raised dais, and when it comes time to take our oaths to the Empire, I only know to stand because everyone around me does.†   (source)
  • She needs help, he said, tersely There are plenty of ways to help, his mother had pointed out, talking about the girl as if she weren't standing in the foyer in her too-big coat.†   (source)
  • "I know that," he replied tersely, "I just felt like wearing one to dinner this year."†   (source)
  • One Sunday, two weeks after the occupation, Aureliano entered Gerineldo Marquez's house and with his usual terseness asked for a mug of coffee without sugar.†   (source)
  • Nora explained tersely that she needed me to fly out the next day, carrying cash to be dropped off in Brussels.†   (source)
  • We are a terse people.†   (source)
  • After seeing to it that every crewman's shoes were spit-shined, every bunk was properly made, and every footlocker was arranged according to the book, the executive officer would take the two-day-old badges and hand the sailors new ones, usually along with some terse advice to square themselves away as New Soviet Men ought.†   (source)
  • When critics complained that it was a medieval punishment, Ehlers responded tersely: "A medieval device for a medieval deed.†   (source)
  • His first line of defense was frowning terseness.†   (source)
  • "He's doing, sir," Puller replied tersely.†   (source)
  • "Get out of here," he said tersely.†   (source)
  • He was terse and to the point: "We didn't do it, and we won't fix it, and you can't make us, and it ain't fair."†   (source)
  • "Enough of this," she said tersely.†   (source)
  • The first is a terse note about Grandma Kato, Mrs. K. Kato, written in 1950.†   (source)
  • Lestat was jubilant; he reminded me tersely that we had less than an hour to get back to Pointe du Lac, and he swore revenge on me.†   (source)
  • "The Navy has revolted, Doctor," the President explained tersely.†   (source)
  • 'That will be all, men,' he ordered tersely, his eyes glaring with disapproval and his square jaw firm, and that's all there was.†   (source)
  • "Well, then," he says a little tersely, tapping the paper once with his index finger, "I guess this paper is sort of your diploma."†   (source)
  • And the next day, the email from Mia was a terse two sentences, something about orchestra getting very intense.†   (source)
  • I asked tersely, motioning him out of the memorial.†   (source)
  • The explanation was terse, clipped, and simple.†   (source)
  • Amburgh managed a terse "Thanks" as he scampered from the plaintiff's table and hurried down the aisle.†   (source)
  • "To my rooms, then bring Dr. Bledsoe to me," he answered tersely.†   (source)
  • To the British it was a "glorious day" — "a cheap and complete victory" in the terse summation of General Grant.†   (source)
  • Eve let Commander Whitney's terse instructions play in her head: Be tactful, respectful, and tell him nothing he doesn't already know.†   (source)
  • "Instructions received and relayed" was the terse reply.†   (source)
  • That was why she had written the plain, unvarnished truth about her life in a cracklingly terse autobiography of forty pages.†   (source)
  • It was a terse denunciation of superstition, railing against the unreformed Papistry lingering within our hearts.†   (source)
  • In a terse voice, she muttered, "Next, McDaniels and Boudreaux."†   (source)
  • Now and then he made terse comments: "This is a nightmare area.†   (source)
  • The president's official statement on the matter was a terse "His brother prefers that this matter be decided by the people of Massachusetts and that the president should not become involved."†   (source)
  • "Creostus has been killed," I say tersely.†   (source)
  • I transmitted what I had on hand, two or three pages of vague and aimless reporting, and on the following nights I'd have the replies waiting for me and I'd print them out, mostly blank pages typed with terse messages like: Get with it, son, and You know better than this.†   (source)
  • Luke says tersely.†   (source)
  • A male voice answered in terse Hebrew.†   (source)
  • The New England states use a terse form of instruction, a tight-lipped, laconic style sheet, wasting no words and few letters.†   (source)
  • How evasively terse!†   (source)
  • A spokesman for Taft issued only one terse statement: "He has stated his feelings on the matter and feels that if others want to criticize him, let them go ahead."†   (source)
  • She doesn't care for his terse manner.
  • Tersely, Jace outlined the Inquisitor's plan.†   (source)
  • His expression is calm, but he's angry—the terseness in his voice betrays him.†   (source)
  • He whispers a few quick, terse words in Pashto, which Idris does not speak.†   (source)
  • At half past, he heard Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia conversing in terse mutters in the living room.†   (source)
  • "Can't do it," said Hestia tersely, "Mad-Eye will explain."†   (source)
  • What did Crake have to say in his terse initial communications from the Watson-Crick Institute?†   (source)
  • "I'm sorry, sir," Langdon said tersely, "but I can't read your mind.†   (source)
  • Judge Fielding's announcement to the gathered court was terse.†   (source)
  • His journal entry for the day is characteristically terse but unmistakably joyous: "CLIMB MOUNTAIN!"†   (source)
  • "Listen," Fache said, speaking to her in terse French.†   (source)
  • I'm sorry, Harry, but I had to check," said Lupin tersely.†   (source)
  • He was more terse than usual and looked at me frantically whenever someone asked him a question.†   (source)
  • If he thought my response terse he didn't show it.†   (source)
  • "Yes," I say again, but this time, the word sounds terse.†   (source)
  • Nehemia only deigned to give him a terse nod.†   (source)
  • 'Sit down, Potter,' said Professor McGonagall tersely.†   (source)
  • He could gauge nothing by these terse replies and he was still unable to see her expression clearly.†   (source)
  • I've trapped them,she told Eragon tersely,but hurry-I cannot hold them long.†   (source)
  • A year isn't a while, Amir!" she said, in a terse voice so unlike her.†   (source)
  • Dorian gave them a terse nod as he strode by.†   (source)
  • The nurse spoke tersely, and did not look up from her probing.†   (source)
  • Afterward, Eragon said tersely, "I'll take the first watch.†   (source)
  • She nodded tersely, and despite herself, she kept her mouth shut as she continued down the hall.†   (source)
  • Qyburn's words were terse and to the point, Cersei's fevered and fervent.†   (source)
  • "Keep to the main trail—we're almost to the Quileute border," Edward ordered tersely.†   (source)
  • "It is true," she said tersely, slinging her forearm over her face.†   (source)
  • After requesting breakfast in a terse voice, he leaned back, hands clasped behind his head.†   (source)
  • "I know that," she says, a little tersely.†   (source)
  • "What's going on?" jace demanded tersely.†   (source)
  • He quickly realized that they were not under attack and gave Nasuada a terse greeting.†   (source)
  • The terse dispatches from the FBI watchers told the rest.†   (source)
  • She almost missed the terse message: Saturday, 3:00 at the Ring in Central Station.†   (source)
  • 'I know that,' Yossarian replied tersely, with a sudden surge of scowling annoyance.†   (source)
  • "I'm glad you've thought this through," I said tersely, "but here's the thing.†   (source)
  • "She tried to cut it out herself," Fang said tersely.†   (source)
  • Finished with his terse announcement, Ramius ordered the submarine to approach the surface.†   (source)
  • He clears his throat and, as if he's said too much, nods tersely to a tent ahead of us.†   (source)
  • I ask tersely, "Edith joined Erudite, didn't she?†   (source)
  • "I'll be happy to send you some brochures, Mr. Lukens," Nigel replied tersely.†   (source)
  • "We're on our way out," Liv replies tersely, pointing to the giant lily bouquet.†   (source)
  • "I never said I wasn't going to do anything," she says tersely.†   (source)
  • 1 nod tersely, but in my head, I'm screaming at Cain.†   (source)
  • "Robots," Fang said tersely, and unfolded his wings.†   (source)
  • "I'm not upset," I said, quite tersely, causing her to inch back on the bed.†   (source)
  • Status checks invariably elicited a terse response.†   (source)
  • "Go," she says tersely to Marcus, pulling my sword arm down.†   (source)
  • "I must be," he interrupted with the terseness of a nail gun.†   (source)
  • She finished her terse orders and then went on, "Joe, I wonder if you've been attending to business.†   (source)
  • 'It's not my own neck I'm saving,' said Harry tersely, tugging the trunk over a patch of particularly uneven, moth-eaten carpet right in front of the door.†   (source)
  • On the television, we watch a terse Head Peacekeeper lay out specific rules regarding how many people per square foot each resident will be expected to take in.†   (source)
  • The terse whispered exchange with Ofglen, on our walk today, hardly counts; but it was a tease, a preliminary.†   (source)
  • An exceedingly calm, circumspect man, Groom was pleasant company but seldom spoke unless spoken to and replied to questions tersely, in a barely audible voice.†   (source)
  • "Look out," said Hermione tersely.†   (source)
  • "Locker rooms," said Wood tersely.†   (source)
  • "Now listen," he said tersely.†   (source)
  • What began with exuberance and passion always ended with terse accusations and hateful words, with rage and weeping fits and the flinging of cooking utensils and collapse.†   (source)
  • Real men are terse.†   (source)
  • To these importunate missives I used to compose tersely worded replies: "Dear Miss W, In my view your plan for a 'Commemoration Ceremony' at the bridge which was the scene of Laura Chase's tragic death is both tasteless and morbid.†   (source)
  • My voice is terse.†   (source)
  • And the silence was broken only by the occasional terse exchange between one SEAL and another, usually aimed toward Danny's privileged position in the shade, out of the direct rays of the sweltering mountain sun.†   (source)
  • "Not really," he said tersely.†   (source)
  • 33, all in various states of lateness, terse threats printed in ominous lettering across the top: PAY NOW.†   (source)
  • Tobias says, terse.†   (source)
  • I asked tersely.†   (source)
  • She's asleep," Abdullah said tersely.†   (source)
  • Yes. said Aberforth tersely.†   (source)
  • 'Right,' said Harry tersely.†   (source)
  • Many of the entries in the brief, perplexing diary recovered with the body were terse observations of flora and fauna, which fueled speculation that McCandless was a field biologist.†   (source)
  • When they flew away, they took McCandless s remains, a camera with five rolls of exposed film, the SOS note, and a diary, written across the last two pages of a field guide to edible plants, that recorded the young man's final weeks in 113 terse, enigmatic entries.†   (source)
  • She would talk herself past the terse woman on the switchboard, and the pompous young fellow in the outer office, and she would reassure her husband that there was no need to feel guilt.†   (source)
  • Arya agreed with a terse nod.†   (source)
  • Fang asked tersely.†   (source)
  • I'm not acting,I replied tersely.†   (source)
  • "No," I said tersely.†   (source)
  • The captain spoke tersely.†   (source)
  • I took it instead as one long message, broken into parts, terse communiqués from her moments of despair.†   (source)
  • Inside was a letter from the lawyer, addressed to Simeon, care of the Ford County jail, and the letter tersely announced to Simeon that what followed was a Complaint for Divorce.†   (source)
  • Alec's voice was terse.†   (source)
  • It might consist: of a terse statement oi: law, or a question on the statement, an answer to the question, a brief or lengthy commentary on a Biblical verse, and so on.†   (source)
  • Terse, and also hungry.†   (source)
  • While Barbara glances tersely at other parents-mostly white, of course-unloading Lexuses and Range Rovers and Volvo wagons, she notices that Cedric seems to be increasingly relaxed-smiling at some of the other incoming freshmen and offering unsolicited greetings.†   (source)
  • Harry paid a visit to Colonel Johnson at his 2nd Battalion headquarters and issued a terse command: "Tomorrow we climb."†   (source)
  • The terse Soviet reply came over the speaker; the young trainer replaced the microphone and turned to Bourne.†   (source)
  • "Seat belt," I ordered tersely.†   (source)
  • On those evenings when he did arrive, his arms laden with groceries, he was short and sullen, parrying my questions about Mahtob with a terse "She is all right."†   (source)
  • But before I can say anything, he asks, in a voice that's very different from the terse one in which, a few minutes earlier, he suggested we just forget about it, "How did you know?†   (source)
  • "War Admiral won't outbreak Seabiscuit," he said tersely, "he won't outgame him, and he won't beat him."†   (source)
  • Yossarian worked his way through to the front and let out a long, agonized groan when he read the terse announcement there: Due to circumstances beyond my control, there will be no big parade this Sunday afternoon.†   (source)
  • Borgsjö's were terse and to the point.†   (source)
  • Borodin was giving terse, monosyllabic orders as he conned the submarine up a channel that had to be dredged every few months despite the enormous jetty which had been built to the north.†   (source)
  • I read aloud a thought unit that consisted of a citation from the Mishnah—the Mishnah is the written text of rabbinic oral law; in form and content it is for the most part terse and clipped, a vast collection of laws upon which are based almost all the rabbinic discussions which, together with the Mishnah, compose the Talmud.†   (source)
  • Who snakes out an arm, grabs me by the shoulder, and pulls me into the room with a terse "Please go away, Craig" to her future son-in-law before slamming the door shut behind us.†   (source)
  • Save for one terse remark to my brother, in explaining why he did not want to visit Japan, John Bradley did not continue to fight the war after he had returned home.†   (source)
  • "Max," she said tersely.†   (source)
  • C#23 CHAPTER 23 Friday, July 1–Sunday, July 10 Two weeks before the trial of Lisbeth Salander began, Malm finished the layout of the 352-page book tersely titled The Section.†   (source)
  • Responding to the official welcome, my young father stepped to the microphone and repeated the terse message he had delivered in other cities: "Men of the fighting fronts cannot understand the need for rallies to sell bonds for purchase of seriously needed supplies.†   (source)
  • One of the surprising things always was the sense of calm and utter silence, broken only by the test rounds fired from the machine guns, by an occasional toneless, terse remark over the intercom, and, at last, by the sobering pronouncement of the bombardier in each plane that they were at the I.P. and about to turn toward the target.†   (source)
  • He sounds terse, irritated.†   (source)
  • Inside the château they spoke a terse form of colloquial Office Hebrew that was beyond the reach of mere translators.†   (source)
  • Nita says tersely, "Their entire lives erased, against their will, for the sake of solving a genetic damage 'problem' that doesn't actually exist.†   (source)
  • A terse report was easiest for her.†   (source)
  • I don't think for a second that the people I had seen and talked to in New England were either unfriendly or discourteous, but they spoke tersely and usually waited for the newcomer to open communication.†   (source)
  • He only half listened to the fourth case and at the end of the terse testimony of the complaining witness he asked, "How much did you lose?"†   (source)
  • "We're not going in," Jack said, tersely.†   (source)
  • They were now briefer than epitaphs and more terse than commands.†   (source)
  • Terse O'Toole retorted.†   (source)
  • Abruptly she told him Will's news, tersely and in short words, feeling a sense of relief as she spoke.†   (source)
  • This terseness, this short-windedness, might mean that she was afraid of something; afraid of being called 'sentimental' perhaps; or she remembers that women's writing has been called flowery and so provides a superfluity of thorns; but until I have read a scene with some care, I cannot be surewhether she is being herself or someone else.†   (source)
  • So they faced one another in the coalgrimed doorway, mad eyes looking into mad eyes, mad voice talking to mad voice as calm and quiet and terse as two conspirators.†   (source)
  • As a protective mechanism, I developed a terse, cynical mode of speech that rebuffed those who sought to get too close to me.†   (source)
  • In addition, he memorized some of the sonorous stupidities of Cicero, because of the sound, and a little of Caesar, terse and lean.†   (source)
  • When they walked, their stride quickened; all the peasant hesitancy of their speech vanished as their voices became clipped, terse.†   (source)
  • Byron speaks in that new voice: that voice brief, terse, each word definite of meaning, not fumbling.†   (source)
  • "Call your friends—get them in here!" he ordered, tersely, and wheeled toward the door.†   (source)
  • I don't like thet news," replied Roy, tersely.†   (source)
  • Flo's terse confession could not be taken lightly.†   (source)
  • He whittled and listened, gave monosyllabic replies, and, when it was asked, terse advice.†   (source)
  • "Sealed wives!" exclaimed Withers, tersely.†   (source)
  • It was again, in Pilchuck's terse terms, every man for himself.†   (source)
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